An RTÉ Nuacht opinion poll has predicted a furious election battle in Mayo with a dramatic fall in the Fianna Fáil vote.
The 2002 election left Fianna Fáil with two seats, but with Beverly Flynn now standing as an Independent, the party's fortunes have changed. The poll topper for Fianna Fáil is new candidate Dara Calleary, who outdoes party colleague John Carty, Fianna Fáil’s only sitting TD in Mayo.
Fine Gael seems poised to retain two seats, but a third seat does not look likely at present. It looks like a dogged contest between four candidates for the last three seats.
Full details of RTÉ Nuacht poll
Read the report of the RTÉ Nuacht poll
Commentary prepared by TNS-MRBI
Tá pobalbhreith Nuacht RTÉ ag tuar go mbeidh an t-olltoghchán ina chogadh dearg i Maigh Eo, agus titim mhór tagtha ar vóta Fhianna Fáil.
Dhá shuíochán a fuair an páirtí in olltoghchán 2002, ach tá Beverly Flynn ina hiarrthóir neamhspleách anois, rud a chuirfidh as do Fhianna Fáil. Is é Dara Calleary is láidre ag Fianna Fáil, an chéad uair aige ina iarrthóir. Sa phobalbhreith seo, sháraigh sé a chomhghleacaí John Carty, TD reatha Fhianna Fáil i Maigh Eo.
Tá Fine Gael ar tí dhá shuíochán a fháil, dealraionn sé, ach ní dócha faoi láthair go ngnófaidh siad an triú ceann. Agus tá an chuma air go mbeidh dianiomaíocht ann idir cheathrar do na trí shuíochán deireanacha.
Tráchtaireacht ullmhaithe ag TNS-MRBI
